Exercise to Improve Heart and Metabolic Health After Childbirth in Women at High Risk for Preeclampsia

November 2, 2026 updated by: LAI KWAN LAM, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Enhancing Cardiometabolic Health in Postnatal Women at High-Risk for Preeclampsia Through Exercise Intervention

Women who develop hypertensive disorders of pregnancy have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Whether exercise during the postpartum period improves cardiometabolic health in this population remains unclear.

This pilot randomized controlled trial will recruit 40 women who were identified as being at high risk for preeclampsia during pregnancy and subsequently developed a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Participants will be enrolled 6 to 8 weeks after delivery and randomly assigned to a 12-week exercise program or standard postnatal care. The exercise program will consist of three sessions per week combining moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, resistance training, and pelvic floor exercises.

Cardiovascular function, blood pressure, blood markers of cardiometabolic health, physical fitness, and body composition will be assessed before and after the 12-week period. Changes in mood, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life will also be evaluated. The study will provide preliminary evidence on the effects of postpartum exercise in this population and inform the design of a larger trial.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Hong Kong
    • Hong Kong
      • Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
        • Recruiting
        • Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 45 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 18 to 45 years.
  • Identified as being at high risk for preeclampsia during the most recent pregnancy and developed a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP).
  • Had a singleton pregnancy.
  • 6 to 8 weeks postpartum at enrollment.
  • Physically able to participate in the exercise training program.
  • Willing to participate in the study and provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Had a multiple pregnancy.
  • Severe medical complications after delivery or other health conditions that contraindicate physical exercise (e.g., severe cardiovascular disease or musculoskeletal disorders).
  • Chronic hypertension or diabetes before pregnancy.
  • Current use of medication that could potentially affect cardiac function (e.g., medication for heart failure).
  • Received antibiotic treatment within the past month.
  • Severe mental health disorders that affect the ability to exercise.
  • Unable or unwilling to adhere to and attend the 12-week exercise program.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Postpartum Exercise Program

Participants will complete a 12-week exercise program consisting of three supervised sessions per week. Each session will combine moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, resistance training, and pelvic floor exercises. Exercise intensity will be adjusted to individual fitness levels and monitored using heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion.
Behavioral: Postpartum Exercise Program

Participants assigned to the exercise group will undertake a 12-week program comprising three supervised 60-minute sessions per week. Each session includes a 5-minute warm-up, 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on a treadmill or stationary bicycle, 20 minutes of resistance training, 10 minutes of pelvic floor exercises, and a 5-minute cool-down. Exercise intensity will be individualized and progressively adjusted according to heart rate and rating of perceived exertion.
No Intervention: Standard Postnatal Care

Participants will receive standard postnatal care, including routine health check-ups and general advice on postnatal health. They will not receive a structured exercise program as part of the study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Systolic Blood Pressure
Time Frame: Before and after the 12-week exercise intervention

Systolic blood pressure will be measured in mmHg. Change from baseline to the end of the 12-week intervention will be assessed.
Before and after the 12-week exercise intervention
Change in Diastolic Blood Pressure
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Diastolic blood pressure will be measured in mmHg using a validated automated device. Change from baseline to the post-intervention assessment will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Triglyceride Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Serum triglyceride levels will be determined using standard laboratory techniques. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Total Cholesterol Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Serum total cholesterol levels will be determined using standard laboratory techniques. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels will be determined using standard laboratory techniques. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels will be determined using standard laboratory techniques. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Apolipoprotein A-I Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Apolipoprotein A-I levels will be measured using ELISA. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Apolipoprotein A-II Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Apolipoprotein A-II levels will be measured using ELISA. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Apolipoprotein B Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Apolipoprotein B levels will be measured using ELISA. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Fasting Glucose Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Fasting glucose levels will be determined using standard laboratory tests. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c)
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

HbA1c will be determined using standard laboratory tests. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Fasting Insulin Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Fasting insulin levels will be measured using ELISA. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in C-Peptide Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

C-peptide levels will be measured using ELISA. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Adiponectin Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Adiponectin levels will be measured using ELISA. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Leptin Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Leptin levels will be measured using ELISA. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels will be measured using ELISA. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels will be measured using ELISA. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Interleukin-6 Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Interleukin-6 Levels Interleukin-6 levels will be measured using ELISA. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Fibrinogen Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Blood fibrinogen levels will be measured using a commercial ELISA kit. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Endothelin-1 Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Endothelin-1 Levels Endothelin-1 levels will be measured using a commercial ELISA kit. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Angiotensin II Levels
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Angiotensin II levels will be measured using a commercial ELISA kit. Changes in levels will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Score
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Postpartum depressive symptoms will be assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Change in score from before to after the 12-week intervention will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Scores
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Changes in questionnaire scores from before to after the 12-week intervention will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Score
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Score Sleep quality will be assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Change in score from before to after the 12-week intervention will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form Score
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Breastfeeding self-efficacy will be assessed using the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF). Change in score from before to after the 12-week intervention will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Six-Minute Walk Test Performance
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Physical performance will be assessed using the Six-Minute Walk Test. Change from baseline to the post-intervention assessment will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Chair Stand Test Performance
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Lower-body physical performance will be assessed using a Chair Stand test. Change from baseline to the post-intervention assessment will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Body Mass Index
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Body mass index (BMI) will be measured. Change from baseline to the post-intervention assessment will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Fat Mass Percentage
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Body fat percentage will be assessed at baseline and after the intervention. Changes from baseline to the post-intervention assessment will be evaluated.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Lean Mass Percentage
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Lean mass percentage will be assessed at baseline and after the intervention. The change from baseline to the post-intervention assessment will be evaluated.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Vital Capacity
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Change in vital capacity from baseline to the post-intervention assessment will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Plank Test Performance
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks

Change in plank test performance from baseline to the post-intervention assessment will be assessed.
Baseline and 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

September 3, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 2, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 2, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

November 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

November 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 2, 2026

Last Verified

October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • CREC Ref. No.: 2024.459

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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